Government

Marina del Pilar applies sustainable bond to ensure water for Baja Californian homes

Several actions led by the state governor are being carried out to improve water network infrastructure

By Redacción2023-10-26T03:59:00+00:00

Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, the governor of Baja California, revealed the first investment of the "Green Bond" sustainable financing with which they expect to increase their capability to provide water for all homes in the state, while also boosting treatment and the use of this liquid in the 7 municipalities of Baja California.

In the 101st edition of "Wednesday Morning Press Conference with Marina del Pilar" which took place in Mexicali, the state governor stated that the priority of all Fourth Transformation governments is to ensure the human right of water for all people.

"When we took office, we found old hydric networks, obsolete infrastructure, and without any maintenance, which is why we decided to work to restore them appropriately," Marina del Pilar said.

Marina del Pilar stated that this financing consists of 3 billion pesos that will be used to strengthen hydric infrastructure and, at the same time, it represents the first financing of this type that benefits a subnational entity, which means it is the first occasion that a state is favored in this way.

The governor highlighted the coordination that the Secretariat of Finance, led by Marco Antonio Moreno Mexia, and the Secretariat for the Management, Treatment, and Protection of Water in Baja California, led by José Armando Fernández Samaniego, have had with several institutions, mainly the North American Development Bank.

For his part, Moreno Mexía stated that the financing's main goal is to ensure to all Baja Californians water as a human right, why is why to materialize this bond, an evaluation process was carried out and a proper framework was established. The structure, the monitoring, and the efficiency report of its application were also carried out.

"It is necessary to point out that this project had several stages to become a reality and it was in July 2023 when Fitch Ratings rating agency issued a positive opinion about the Green Bond that represents a benefit for the state's finances," the state official said.

He highlighted that a decision framework was added to resource management, creating the possibility of boosting the 3 billion pesos to reach a critical mass of outstanding investments. This is why a goal has been made regarding investments with an initial amount of 10 billion pesos, all for the hydric sector, through resource investments of several different organizations, private capital, and water agencies.

"We have identified, together with the cabinet, the need of an investment of more than 1 billion dollars in the state for the hydric sector. So, 10 billion pesos already represent an important amount to fix this infrastructure lag that resulted from practically 20 years of no investments in the state regarding hydric matters," she said.

Meanwhile, Secretary Fernández Samaniego explained that in a first stage, they are contemplating the beginning of 49 projects for an amount of more than 1.75 billion pesos meant for the supply and treatment of water in Baja California.

Of this total, 34 projects will be carried out by the State Commission of Utilities of Tijuana (CESPT), 6 will be carried out by the water agency in Ensenada, 5 will be carried out by the State Water Commission (CEA), 3 by the agency in Mexicali, and 1 by the State Commission of Public Utilities of Tecate (CESPTE).

"Regarding actions about water supply, work on the Tijuana-Colorado River Aqueduct is planned through the supply and installation of two power transformers as well as a supervising control system," the state official said.

Fernández Samaniego revealed the projects that are being carried out, mainly replacements, water network construction, and several actions of general maintenance that will result in ensuring supply for the future of Baja California and the preservation of water in the state.

As such, he explained projects that will positively impact the Ensenada community such as the restoration of the Treatment Plant El Sauzal, through the Green Bond, which will cover the northern part of Ensenada; the repair of another treatment plant in the northeast that will conclude in December, and the Treatment Plan El Gallo. In addition, on Thursday, the Committee will vote to free the necessary resources to restore El Naranjo, which is a project they are working on. It will provide Ensenada with the necessary infrastructure that it has lacked for decades.

To conclude, he announced that the most important investment in Mexicali is Colector Voluntad, a 5 kilometer transmitter which will help to prevent overload at the La Arenita plant. In addition, drainage will be installed in the southern area of Valle de Mexicali, a project that will benefit more than 15,000 people.